title: First report of chikungunya from the Maldives.
abstract: An outbreak, characterised by fever, arthralgia and myalgia, in Malé and other islands of the Maldives began in December 2006. The illness was suspected as being due to chikungunya virus based on clinical symptoms and the prevailing chikungunya epidemic in the Indian Ocean region. The Department of Public Health initiated an investigation and collected blood samples from 67 patients; 21% were IgM-positive for chikungunya and 96% were PCR-positive. Six percent were positive for dengue by enzyme immunosorbent assay and 4% had evidence of dual infection. This is the first time that chikungunya fever has been confirmed in the Maldives. A total of 11,879 suspected and confirmed cases affecting 61% of inhabited islands (attack rate ranging from 0% to 72% on individual islands) were reported by the end of the epidemic in April 2007.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Malé 20379, Republic of Maldives.
authors.forename: Abdul Azeez
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Yoosuf
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shiham
authors.forename: Ahmed Jamsheed
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Geela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Luna
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pandav
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Gongal
authors.forename: Ananda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nisaluk
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Jarman
authors.forename: Robert V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Gibbons
mesh_terms: D018354:Alphavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002646:Chikungunya virus / Q000276:immunology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007195:Indian Ocean Islands / Q000453:epidemiology; D007303:Insect Vectors; D008297:Male; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods*; D014329:Tropical Climate / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral